Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-09-10
SOCIALISM IN THE FORTIES.
Extract From John q. DrcN's Paper
on "Socinl Science"


onistjc, in the realm of sociology.
We quote from an interesting paper
10y John &. Drew a biz of history
from the " Forties,' which will no
doubt interest our studious readers
Forty years ago, when Sir Archl-
bald Alison wrote his history Of Eu-
rope, in reviewing the period (lS3>
to 1880 which preceded and pre-
pared the way for the forties," he
clearly perceived that the coming
upheaval would rot be merely an
ordinary political phenomenon, but
one Of profounder significance. The
Chartists had just promulgated the
six points in their platform, which
were thus
lst. Universal suffrage.
I'd. Vote by ballot.
Sd. Paid representatives in Par
lament.
4th. Equal electoral districts.
5th. Abolshing of the property
qualification.
9th. Annual Parliaments.
lie says: "The movement was
essentially social, and it was directed
rather against the capitalists than
the Government. is sHcA il merits
re,y patieulr attention, as ii mas
the drst mlication which appeared IN
this counry (England) Of the SOCIAL
IsT AGITATION mhich ten years utter
Gin the forties) orertuned the gOr-
ernmeM Of Louis PhHippt and
worhed such importaM effects on The
monarchy Of France"
The Chartlsts, encouraged by the
success which followed the similar
aspirations in France, referred to
above by Sir Archibald Alison rs
the social movement" in that
country, SO rapidly increased in
numbers and organization that early
in lS4S an enormous petition,
claimed to bear five million (5,000,-
O00) signatures, wa8 prepared for
presentation to Parliament, praying
for enactment into law of the six
very moderate propositions which
are noted in the foregoing. April
10th, lS4S, was the date fixed for
this apparently orderly demonstra-
ton, and immense crowds were ex-
pectod to gather and ratify the pre-
sentation. But the British govern
ment claimed that by the report o
its secret emlssarles, or spies, the Pc
tition movement was but q cloak for
more decisive demonstrations. 1t
believed that, to use the words Of
Sir Archibald Alison, "onco in pos
session of the hall, republic was to
have been proclaimed, as in Paris,
when the mob broke into the legisla
tive body, and a provisional govern
ment appointed" The frightened
government was so on the alert that,
to quote again from the same cmi-
neut authority, "the guards, horse
and foot, were all under arms from
from three o'clock in the morning;
the public offices were filled with
musketeers, the Bank of England,
besides being strongly occupied by
infantry, had all its windows closed
by oop-holed barricades and sand
bags, and some pieces of artillery
were placed on the roof. Two regi-
ments of the line were in reserve at
Milbank penitertlary; twelve hun
drcd infantry at Deptford dock
yards, and thirty pieces of heavy
artillery were ready at the Tower. "
No less than 10000 special con-
stables were organized in different
parts of the city, in one detachment
of which Louis Napoleon, who after
wards became emperor of the French
and shockingly betrayed his trust,
acted as special police officer, to an
tagonize the British people.
Ofc0urse with such an oyerwhelm-
ing display of 70 ce the popular will
was baked but not conquered and
the birth of the British Republic
was for time deferred.